New Scientist


How older siblings may shape sexual orientation via mother’s immune system

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:50:33 +0000

It has long been observed that men with older brothers are more likely to be gay, but an association has also been found with older sisters. This sheds further light on how a mother's immune system may be involved in shaping sexual orientation


Human organoids restore cognition in mice with half a brain

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:01:55 +0000

Mice with half a brain experienced significant improvements in their cognition and movement when they received brain organoids made from human stem cells


Xand van Tulleken on the 3 wellness trends to be most wary of

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:00:00 +0000

The wellness boom has brought a wide array of consumer products that promise to boost your health and happiness. Xand van Tulleken has delved into it all and explains how to think about the evidence behind the hype 


Humpback whale mother with stillborn calf shows ‘grief-like’ behaviour

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0000

For the first time, researchers have seen a humpback mother interacting with her stillborn calf, reporting that she stayed close to it for at least two days


Why The Ambidextrous Universe is a masterpiece of science writing

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Don’t read The Ambidextrous Universe unless you are serious about maths and physics, because Martin Gardner is very happy to make his readers work – to enthralling effect, says Jacklin Kwan


Nuclear fusion experiment produces the brightest X-rays on Earth yet

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000

A new twist on nuclear fusion ignition emitted X-rays that are as bright as some stars, which could enable other extreme experiments


Wild chimpanzees teach youngsters by handing them tools

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Adult chimpanzees have been observed passing tools to their younger relatives, helping them learn the skills needed for fishing for ants or algae


The Parthenon’s architectural illusions are a myth

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:01:00 +0000

Optical illusions thought to have influenced the design of the Parthenon in ancient Greece are not backed up by evidence or are too small to have an effect


We may finally have a way to rate a quantum computer’s usefulness

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Determining how useful different quantum computers are has been a long running challenge – now researchers appear to have the answer


Roman roads weren’t so straight after all

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Detailed data on the Roman Empire’s entire road network is offering fresh insight into how Romans built their infrastructure and how it influenced the future geography of Europe